Page 71 - Ultimate-Bestiary-Revenge-of-the-Horde-5E

Cave Goblins In the event of the king’s death, what little structure the troop had
dies with him. In some cases, the largest remaining goblin will,
Cave goblins are the most derived subrace. Living their entire quite literally, expand to ll the role, but it is just as common for
lives in the pitch-blackness underground for generations has the troop to simply collapse and dissolve. If they are lucky, some
warped this strain considerably. eir skin is devoid of pigment, goblins will nd an existing troop to join and a new king to serve.
almost translucent, with a sparse covering of thin hair. O en, their Given the vast size of the caves below, many simply wander, little
sensitive skin is raw and blistered where they have encountered more than feral beasts.
strong light, or marred with tumorous sores from simple lack
of genetic diversity. In most cases, the eyes have shrunken to Environment
a near-vestigial state from lack of use, but in a few lines, they
have magni ed to enormous proportions to catch whatever light While other goblins shape their environment to a certain extent,
they can. cave goblins are shaped by it. ey barely build any structures of
their own more complicated than a rickety bridge over a chasm,
Cave goblin body types vary dramatically as well. ere is debate but instead re ne and expand natural caverns, spreading out into
as to whether goblins of particular physiology undertake certain honeycombed warrens spanning miles underground.
roles in the troop that they are suited for or whether, like some
insect colonies, their bodies develop to ful ll di erent tasks. Cave goblins will attempt to eat any potential food item; pickings
Either way, it is di cult to describe a 'typical' cave goblin, as even are slim enough below that they can’t a ord to be choosy. Most
two individuals of the same caste or designation will look very troops are able to eke out a living mostly on subterranean
di erent. fungus species and cave molds, but any meat they can catch will
be enthusiastically devoured before the thought of cooking it
It is rare to see cave goblins dressed in any more than a few rags can occur.
but—given the rarity of supplies—they can make a little material
go a long way, utilizing every scrap of leather, cloth, or twine they Role Playing Cave Goblins
can lay their hands on.
An individual cave goblin has little personality, and is quite
Culture animalistic in its tendencies. As a group, however, they have an
unnerving synchronicity, as if they share a common intelligence.
Rather than the typical goblin hierarchy, cave goblins are made up is e ect increases the more goblins there are in an area, so
of hundreds, or even thousands, of equally subservient members even huge troops of cave goblins can decide on a course of action
serving a single “king”. is king grows fat on the tribute of his as a whole. Whether this is due to some psychic connection,
subjects, most of whom are his descendants, being the only pheromones, or some other strange method of communication
reproductive male, and commands an almost religious veneration, is unknown.
with rst pick of the food and goods gathered by the troop. In
many cases, the king is not a purebred cave goblin, with many Cave goblin kings, on the other hand, tend to be grandiose,
kings having a dash or more of hobgoblin, orc, ogre, or even troll viewing themselves as supreme rulers of their own empire and,
at some point in their lineage. Cave goblins ock to strength, so it with hundreds or thousands of thoughtlessly loyal servants at their
is not uncommon to see an entirely di erent subterranean species command, there is an argument to be made that they are right.
with a troop of deferential cave goblins in tow. ose who stroke their egos may only nd themselves insulted and
patronized before being banished from the kingdom rather than
being executed and possibly eaten.

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Chapter 3: GoblinsChapter 3: Goblins